, 1887-12-22
Correspondence of the RevrEwI.

OLyMrIA, Dec II Mr.. Lewis. Of King
and Suahumish counties introduced IA most
important bill providing tor the arpoint-
mCut of a hoard Of railroad commissioners
in tive council yesterday. it, provisions
summt rL ,d rs briefly ~ possible are that
the governor ,lrallappuiut three competent
persons a. railroad commissioners To hold
office two years. "Ihe governor may re-
move thr commissioners tor any aud all
CuU,e which To him may svcm meet ana
lust. Three districts are created, the first
To- be constituted ut Wallu Wah, Column
biu, Garfield Asuuu, and Whitman; Sec
ond sL'ct. SlpLun", stevens,
Lincoln, D,2lns'as' tF@,qhI,n, Ad1"s, g1.,
uautt; third district, Clarke, Cgwitl,
Wnhtnkuu. Pacific, Chrhulis, Lewis,
Thur-t II, Mason, Fierce. SuOhuWish, Kit
sap SEngit, WhHCum, Island ut San Juan,
Jeiiprspn, Clailnm aud KING. The com
miS.iuugrs shall take u proper oath and
giyc bond, IN the sum Of $1,000 each, the
bond, go hc approved by the governor
The commissioners shall meet at the cap
i,a on lirst Monday of April of each year
and elect one of their number president aud
choose IA competent secretary. Each con-
missioner shall receive $1,000 and the secre-
tary $500 per tnnum, The maximum pas
senger rate shall be four cents per mile, 100
pounds baggage free The commissioners
shall have general supervision OF all rail-
roads and Of its equipment aud the man
the public safety and convenience and for
the purpose Of Keeping railroad companies
as to the safety of their bridges, shall make
semi-annuil examination VI the same and
report tn the companies. The companies
shall repair any defects within ten days of
notification. The commission Is granted
other extensive and arbitrary powers
The cpnmlssion shall report to the COVER
nor ON or before the first VI iuIay in Jau-
uary in each year, their findings. The re.
-la al .lf,In
am Iunt uf capital stock, the u.uo Int!pf pre-
ferred stock, i any, th-amJuut uf it, bond.
cd debf aud the rate uf interest, the amount
of its lloatius debt, the cost aud actual pres.
ent cash value OF its road and equipment;
the estimated value of all property owned
10y the compnuy, the number of acres or
igiua,ly granted in aid Oi construction, the
number OF acres remaining uusold, list of
its officers and directors with their places
of residence, statistics of the road and its
transportation business, and the average
amount of tonnage that can be carried over
snch road. The officers Of railroad COM
luiIieS are required 20 make such r. ports to
the commissioners as shall facilitate their
iabors; thc commissioners are given power
to examine books and officers of railroad
companies. The railroad comunnics are
required to use suitable cars and use ali
proper dispatch, 1T provides against dis.
crminatiOn in favor or against any one in
railroad charges; short hauls shall not pay
-,
companies shall give the commission i'm
mediate notice at amy serious accident on
their respective lines, and the commission
may Use their discretion about making an
investi Iation. The commission shall in
vestigatc the complaints from shippers or
passengers. The, companies shall keep q
complete register OF all cars aud to whom
they are furnished. Any railroad oom.
panies violating any OF the provisions Of
the act shall forfeit To the person aggrieYed
three times the amount the actual damages
sustained and costs. Amy company Violut-
in-s any ot the provisions of the act shalt
pay tine OF not less than 500 nor more
than $4,000 for each oiiense. District courts
shall enforce the orders of the commission.
As yet there has been no movement: in
either house concerning changing the ter
fitorial capital. The east of the mountains
members favor Yakima and will make
strong effort to have that point selected
Inc coast members are not so much inter-
ested, but is u safe prediction that should
any change be made Yakima will be sue
cessful.
Tomorrow evening the governor, mem
befs OF both houses, many prominent citi-
Gems and the press gang will visit the new
territorial asylum for the insane, with the
Interior object Of inspecting the building.
tastic." The building is located at Stella
COON and cost 100000. 1t is said to be
one of the best structures for the money in
Abe country.
Numerou. women suffrage bills have
not yet started. The result is in doubt ss
many menbere are very ssoiturn.
Judge Barney Is still here and ID taking
In the sights Of the giddy capital.
The Seattle Post Inteliiyencer has created